--- title: 'What Is the Luteal Phase?' slug: luteal-phase-mood-energy-pms lifeStage: cycle category: Cycle medicalReviewer: "Dr Rebeccah Tomlinson, Private GP Women's Health: Menopause Speciality" reviewerId: 'https://blog.bloume.com/cycle/medical-board.md#dr-rebeccah-tomlinson' lastUpdated: '2026-08-11' primarySource: rcog.org.uk wordCount: 1039 readTimeInSeconds: 259.75 --- # What Is the Luteal Phase? The luteal phase is the second half of your menstrual cycle, starting after ovulation and ending when your period begins. It tends to come in two halves. Early on, rising progesterone can bring a sense of calm. Later, falling hormones may bring the mood dips, tiredness, and physical discomfort that come with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Understanding what is happening hormonally can help you make sense of how your body and mood shift across your cycle. **Q: How long does the luteal phase last?** A: The luteal phase usually lasts 12 to 14 days, though anywhere from 10 to 17 days is normal. It starts after ovulation and ends when your period begins. The luteal phase is the second half of your menstrual cycle, running from ovulation through to the start of your next period. It is also the phase where premenstrual syndrome (PMS) can be impactive for some people, and where shifts in mood, energy, and how your body feels, are something many people notice. Understanding what is happening during this phase can help you make sense of your own experience across the second half of your cycle. ## What happens in the luteal phase? After ovulation, the follicle that released the egg changes into a temporary structure called the corpus luteum. It produces progesterone, the hormone that takes the lead in the second half of your cycle. Progesterone thickens the lining of your womb, getting it ready in case a fertilised egg implants. The luteal phase usually lasts 12 to 14 days, though anywhere from 10 to 17 days is normal. If pregnancy does not happen, the corpus luteum breaks down, progesterone and oestrogen drop sharply, and the womb lining sheds. That shedding is your period, and it marks the end of the luteal phase. ## Why the early and late luteal phase feel different The luteal phase does not always feel the same all the way through. The early-to-mid part often feels different from the days just before your period, and hormones explain why. In the early-to-mid luteal phase, you might feel calm, focused, and settled. This is when progesterone rises, alongside a smaller, secondary peak in oestrogen. Progesterone can have a calming effect and may help with sleep, which is part of why you may feel more grounded in the days just after ovulation. The late luteal phase tells a different story. If pregnancy has not happened, progesterone and oestrogen begin to fall. This drop may bring on the symptoms of PMS in the days leading up to your period. You might feel the shift gradually, or it can come on quite suddenly. This decline is what sits behind the changes in mood and energy you may notice. ## What sits behind mood changes and PMS The exact cause of PMS is not fully understood, though it lines up closely with the way your hormone levels change across your cycle. The drop in oestrogen and progesterone in the late luteal phase can affect the chemical messengers in your brain, including serotonin. Serotonin helps regulate mood, and when there is less of it available, you may notice the mood swings, irritability, and low mood that often come before a period. The fall in progesterone also adds to tiredness and trouble sleeping, which can build on how you feel day to day. Other common PMS symptoms include mood swings, low mood, irritability, bloating, breast tenderness, headaches, changes in appetite, and fatigue. They usually show up in the two weeks before your period and ease once bleeding starts. > **INFO**: This list is for awareness only. If you are worried about premenstrual symptoms, it is worth talking them through with your GP rather than using any list to diagnose yourself. ## Why the experience varies so much from person to person You may notice some premenstrual symptoms, and for many they stay mild. Around 2 to 4 in 100 women experience PMS severe enough to interfere with daily life. The difference comes down largely to sensitivity. You may have a stronger neurological response to the normal hormonal shifts of your cycle. Your hormones sit within a typical range, and it is how your brain responds to their rise and fall that varies. Stress can also make PMS symptoms worse, adding another layer to the picture. Your experience can also shift across your life. Symptoms may vary month to month, though they often settle into a pattern you can recognise over time. PMS can become more noticeable in your late 30s and 40s, as the hormonal shifts of perimenopause become less predictable. ## How PMS differs from Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder PMS and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) are sometimes mixed up, though they are not the same. PMDD involves a severe neurological reaction to the same hormonal shifts that cause PMS, and its symptoms can be disabling in a way PMS usually is not. PMDD is covered in its own dedicated articles. If what you are feeling seems to go beyond PMS, speak to your GP. > **WARNING**: If you are in severe distress, or having thoughts of self-harm or suicide at any point in your cycle, please reach out for support. You can call the Samaritans any time on 116 123, or speak to your GP or a mental health professional. --- If your premenstrual symptoms are getting in the way of daily life, tracking them across two or three cycles can help you and your GP spot a pattern and talk through your options. You can raise this at any routine GP appointment. **Q: How long does the luteal phase last?** The luteal phase usually lasts 12 to 14 days, though anywhere from 10 to 17 days is normal. It starts after ovulation and ends when your period begins. **Q: Why do mood and energy change during the luteal phase?** In the early part of the luteal phase, rising progesterone can bring a sense of calm and may help you sleep. In the late luteal phase, both progesterone and oestrogen fall. This drop may affect serotonin levels in your brain, which can leave you with mood swings, low mood, irritability, and fatigue in the days before your period. **Q: Why does the severity of your PMS vary?** The difference is largely down to how sensitive you are to the normal hormonal shifts of your cycle. Your hormones sit within a typical range, and it is how your brain responds to their changes that varies from person to person. Stress can also make symptoms worse. Around 2 to 4 in 100 women experience PMS severe enough to affect daily life. If your symptoms feel significant, it is worth speaking to your GP. **Q: Can PMS symptoms change over time?** Yes. Your symptoms can vary from cycle to cycle, though they often form a pattern you can recognise over time. They may become more noticeable in your late 30s and 40s, as the hormonal changes of perimenopause make things less predictable. ### Clinical Sources - [rcog.org.uk](https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-our-patient-information/managing-premenstrual-syndrome-pms/) - [rcog.org.uk](https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-our-patient-information/managing-premenstrual-syndrome-pms/) - [rcog.org.uk](https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-our-patient-information/managing-premenstrual-syndrome-pms/) - [Luteal Phase: Symptoms, Length, and More](https://www.webmd.com/women/luteal-phase) - [Luteal Phase: Symptoms, Length, and More](https://www.webmd.com/women/luteal-phase) - [Working out in harmony with your menstrual cycle](https://www.axahealth.co.uk/staying-healthy/womens-health/4-phases-of-the-menstrual-cycle/) - [Working out in harmony with your menstrual cycle](https://www.axahealth.co.uk/staying-healthy/womens-health/4-phases-of-the-menstrual-cycle/) - [rcog.org.uk](https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-our-patient-information/managing-premenstrual-syndrome-pms/) - [PMDD](https://www.iapmd.org/pmdd) --- Reviewed by Dr Rebeccah Tomlinson, Private GP Women's Health: Menopause Speciality | [Medical Board](https://blog.bloume.com/cycle/medical-board.md) | August 2026